Lily plant named ‘Rialto’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lily plant named ‘Rialto’ characterized by its large white flowers with contrasting orange pollen and vigorous growth.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Lilium L. oriental hybrid.

Variety denomination: Rialto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of lily plant, botanically known as Lilium L., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Rialto’.

‘Rialto’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objective of creating new lily cultivars having many large, upright flowers and vigorous growth habit.

‘Rialto’ originated from a hybridization made by the inventor, Cees A. van der Voort, in a controlled breeding program in Rijnsburg, the Netherlands in October, 1996. Both the female and male parents are unnamed proprietary Lilium L. seedlings.

‘Rialto’ was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by the inventor in October, 1996 in a controlled environment in Rijnsburg, the Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Rialto’ was accomplished when scales were taken from the initial selection and grown to maturity in a controlled environment in Rijnsburg, the Netherlands by, or under the supervision of, Cees A. van der Voort. Horticultural examination of selected plants has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Rialto’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Rialto’ which in combination distinguish this lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. large, white flowers with contrasting orange pollen; and     -   2. vigorous growth habit.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to ‘Rialto’ is the Lily cultivar ‘Simplon’, described in pending U.S. Plant Pat. application Ser. No. 09/357,100. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted by the inventor in Stige, Denmark, the main distinction between the two cultivars is:

-   -   1. Both plants of ‘Rialto’ and ‘Simplon’ have the same stem         firmness, but the flower color of ‘Rialto’ is more bright white         than ‘Simplon’.

‘Rialto’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength without any change in genotype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a side-view of a typical plant of ‘Rialto’, with colors being as true as possible with illustrations of this type.

The photographic drawing shows the large, white flowers with contrasting orange pollen, the buds, and leaves of ‘Rialto’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar as grown in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. The plant is grown under controlled climate conditions, preferably in greenhouse constructions. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart (publication date 2001), except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately 12:00 p.m. in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands. The age of the plant described is about 90 days.

-   Parentage:     -   -   Male parent.—Unnamed proprietary seedling (unpatented).         -   Female parent.—Unnamed proprietary seedling (unpatented). -   Propagation: Scales were taken from the bulbs. -   Plant: -   General appearance and form:     -   -   Height.—Medium to tall, 105 cm, depending on growing             conditions.         -   Flowering season.—All year round in controlled climate             conditions in a greenhouse.         -   Winter hardiness/weather tolerance.—None.         -   Lastingness of the individual bloom.—Minimum 21 days,             depending on storing conditions.         -   Rooting habit.—Vigorous.         -   Fragrance.—Very weak. -   Stem description:     -   -   Length.—Medium to long, 90 cm., depending growing             conditions.         -   Diameter.—4 mm.         -   Strength.—Very strong. -   Foliage:     -   -   Overall shape of leaf.—Ovate.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 35-45, depending on growing             conditions.         -   Length.—Medium, 10 cm, depending on growing conditions.         -   Width.—Wide, 3.5 cm, depending on growing conditions.         -   Texture.—Minimal pubescence.         -   Color of upper surface.—Mature leaf: Dark green — RHS 133A.             Immature leaf: Medium green — RHS 137A.         -   Color of lower surface.—Mature leaf: Dark green — RHS 133A.             Immature leaf: Medium green — RHS 137A. Venation color:             Upper surface: Dark green — RHS 133A (mature leaf); medium             green — RHS 137A (immature leaf). Lower surface (mature and             immature leaf): medium green — RHS 136C.         -   Petiole.—Length: 3 mm. Color: Green — RHS 136C. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Raceme.         -   Flower size.—15 cm Diameter.         -   Overall shape.—Hexagonal star in form and bowl-shaped in             cross-section.         -   Average number of flowers per lateral branch.—3, depending             on growing conditions.         -   Tepals.—Number of tepals: 6. Texture: Papillose. Tepal size:             Medium length 8 cm; medium to wide width, 4.5 cm. Tepal             color: Upper surface: White RHS 155D. Lower surface: White             RHS 155D. -   Bud:     -   -   Form.—Tapering.         -   Color.—Light green — RHS 138D.         -   Length.—8.5 cm, depending on growing conditions.         -   Diameter.—3.5 cm depending on growing conditions.         -   Peduncles.—3 cm length, angle upright to horizontal, color:             medium green — RHS 136C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen.—Number: 6. Color: Green RHS 138D.         -   Seeds.—None.         -   Fruit.—None.         -   Anthers.—Number: 6. Color: Yellow-Green — RHS 145A.         -   Pollen.—Color: Greyed red RHS 180A.         -   Stigma.— 1. Color: Brown — RHS N200D. -   Disease resistance: No known information. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of lily plant named ‘Rialto’, as illustrated and described herein. 